Thomas a



(ModeL) T. A. PARKINSON.

TREADLE.

Patented Dec. 13, 1881.

N INVENTOR: 54. WM/Mm/ WITNESSES WMf ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFIcE.

THOMAS A. PARK I NSON, OF YORK, NEBRASKA.

TREADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,962, dated December 13, 1881.

Application filed October 25, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. PARKINSON, of York, in the county of York and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Treadles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both of the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan view, of the improved tread-1e mechanism. The object of my invention is to construct treadle mechanism that can be operated with" less fatigue and to better advantage than the ordinary treadle.

Theinvention consists in a compound treadle used by simulation of walking, and adapted for driving corn-shellers, printing-presses, grindstones, and other machines.

A is the supporting-frame, which may represent a portion of the machine to be driven arid a is the crank-shaft.

B G are the treadles hung on frame A. The treadle B is connected by a rod, b, to the crank direct, and treadle O by a rod, 0, to the end of rod 1) near the crank-pin. The treadle B is hung on a pin, (1, so that it is a lever of the first order, and treadle O is hung on a pin, 6, at one end, so that its moving end, to which the foot is applied, shall move reversely of the foot-piece of treadle 13, while both act to turn the crank in the one direction. The

treadles are to be suitably braced, if required. Their treads are inclined in opposite directions, as shown.

To work the treadles the operator places his left foot on treadle B and the right foot on treadle (J, and operates them by simulating the motion of walking. By that a constant pressure is applied to the crank-shaft, and, the whole weight and strength of the operator being utilized, the power is much greater than that obtained by the ordinary treadle. At the same time the laborious heel-and-toe movement is avoided and the work is less irksome on account of the freedom in the position of .the operator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The compound-treadle mechanism herein described, consisting of two treadles, one of which is connected directly to the crank and the other to the upper end of the rod which connects the first-named treadle to the crank, as set forth.

2. In a compoundtreadle mechanism, the combination, with the frame A and the crank a, of the treadle B, connected to the said crank by rod b, and the treadle 0, connected to the upper end of the said rod by the rod 0, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS A. PARKIN SON.

Witnesses:

F. A. BIDWELL, T. E. SEDGWIGK. 

